Letting students use a word processing software does seem to make the writing process easier for students. However, this added ease allows the students to concentrate more on their writing and content than on handwriting, or how a written work looks before they turn it in. By using word processing software for writing assignments, "...all students have an equal opportunity to create legible and attractive documents (Lowther, 2010 p. 180)." Also, by using word processing software, it not only helps to improve the student's writing, but also helps to improve computer skills.
2. How can word processing be used to engage students in higher-level thinking?
By using word processing, students are better able to focus on the assignment at hand, rather than writing out their assignment. When they are using a word processing software, students can use their higher-level thinking skills to organize and present their data or research. This will also allow students to re-arrange the product more easily than if they were working with paper and pencil. Another example would be to allow the students to create a table within the word processing software to depict data. Students would be able to research and decide which data they believe would be most suitable for the assignment. They could create a table with the data and also write and explanation of their findings or how they decided on which information was most relevant.
3. In what ways are the individual needs of students met when their work is completed with a word processor?
A word processing software can help to meet the needs of students in several different ways. If a student has horrible handwriting, and usually receives poor grades because of this, the word processing software would help these students with the neatness and presentation portions of their work. Other students may have a hard time with spelling or grammar, a word processing software would help these students focus more on the content of their work by assisting with spell check and grammar check. There may also be students that have a difficult time when trying to organize their thoughts into a paper, by using a word processor, these students would be able to move their thoughts around without having to start over.
Lowther, D., & Morrison, G. (2010). Integrating Computer Technology into the Classroom. Pearson Education, Inc
2. How can word processing be used to engage students in higher-level thinking?
By using word processing, students are better able to focus on the assignment at hand, rather than writing out their assignment. When they are using a word processing software, students can use their higher-level thinking skills to organize and present their data or research. This will also allow students to re-arrange the product more easily than if they were working with paper and pencil. Another example would be to allow the students to create a table within the word processing software to depict data. Students would be able to research and decide which data they believe would be most suitable for the assignment. They could create a table with the data and also write and explanation of their findings or how they decided on which information was most relevant.
3. In what ways are the individual needs of students met when their work is completed with a word processor?
A word processing software can help to meet the needs of students in several different ways. If a student has horrible handwriting, and usually receives poor grades because of this, the word processing software would help these students with the neatness and presentation portions of their work. Other students may have a hard time with spelling or grammar, a word processing software would help these students focus more on the content of their work by assisting with spell check and grammar check. There may also be students that have a difficult time when trying to organize their thoughts into a paper, by using a word processor, these students would be able to move their thoughts around without having to start over.
Lowther, D., & Morrison, G. (2010). Integrating Computer Technology into the Classroom. Pearson Education, Inc
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